Dun Terrius Bradford of Sale City, Georgia, was sentenced on July 21 to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after being convicted in December on multiple federal charges related to dog fighting, drug trafficking, and firearms possession. The case involved the rescue of 67 pit bull-type dogs from Bradford’s residence, which at the time represented the third-largest number of dogs rescued in any federal case. It also marked the first federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division said, “Dog fighting is organized crime, and it’s a magnet for other criminal activity, as this case demonstrates. Americans detest animal cruelty and the illegal drugs and guns that come with it. The Department of Justice is fighting to get these criminal elements out of our neighborhoods.”
U.S. Attorney William R. Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia said, “Dog fighting is a grave act of animal cruelty that breeds crime and depravity, bringing illegal drugs, firearms, and violence into our communities. This first-ever federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting demonstrates our commitment to working with law enforcement partners to dismantle these criminal organizations and protect both animals and the communities they harm.”
Court documents show that Bradford maintained a stockpile of 67 dogs used for fighting at his home along with equipment such as blood-splattered treadmills modified for conditioning dogs; injectable veterinary steroids; a homemade breeding stand; a cattle shock prod containing dog DNA; and a cinder-block water tank used as part of training regimens. Agents also recovered cocaine base—along with cooking equipment—and four firearms from his property.
Inspector General John Walk from the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, “This investigation exposed a dangerous criminal operation involving organized dog fighting activities that inflicted horrific abuse on animals while also serving as a breeding ground for other serious criminal activity such as the narcotics and firearms violations that this defendant engaged in.” Acting U.S. Marshal Joseph Chapman added, “The U.S. Marshals remain committed to supporting law enforcement in bringing those responsible for dog fighting to justice and ensuring that rescued canines are placed in protective custody.”
Bradford was prosecuted under federal laws prohibiting involvement with dog fights affecting interstate commerce or possession or training dogs intended for such purposes. The investigation involved USDA-OIG agents alongside local agencies including Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Marshals Service.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office serves approximately two million residents across seventy counties covering cities like Macon, Albany, and Columbus over an area exceeding twenty-five thousand square miles; it prosecutes crimes including drug trafficking while promoting public safety through cooperation with law enforcement partners, according to its official website.